Managing Automation - January 2008 - (Page 33) processes. BPM platforms such as IBM’s WebSphere Process Server and Business Modeler allow manufacturers to model and test business processes, automatically deploy new software — composed of services — to support the business processes, and monitor the operation of business processes. BPM tools will play such a key role in the transition to the next generation of enterprise systems that the market for such tools is expected to grow rapidly. Forrester Research, for example, predicts that BPM software licenses, services, and maintenance revenues will grow from $1.6 billion in 2006 to $6.3 billion by 2011. MANUFACTURERS’ CHOICE The entry of enterprise software vendors into the BPM space, however, raises a question for manufacturers: Should they look to dedicated, pureplay providers for BPM tools and methodologies or should they rely on ERP software vendors? The answer for some companies may be both. Since ERP software providers, at least in the short term, are unlikely to offer tools that support a wide range of process types and integrate easily with a variety of legacy systems, manufacturers may be forced to use multiple BPM tools, experts say. “Buyers of BPM tools should take a hard look at their requirements, categorize them, and do evaluations that include BPM tools from both ERP and third-par ty providers,” says Ken Vollmer, principal analyst at Forrester Research. “If they can get all the functionality they need from a single vendor, fine. But if they need mul- tiple BPM tool vendors to meet their requirements, that’s the way they should go.” Until now, pure-play software vendors have dominated the market for BPM tools and methodologies. Many of the leaders — such as BEA, Software AG’s webMethods unit, TIBCO, and IBM — got into BPM by way of the enterprise application integration market. Their products tend to support software developers in the composition of applications that use ser vices provided by a wide range of transactional systems, such as ERP and CRM. BPM tools from other best-of-breed vendors, however, specialize in modeling and deploying software to support different types of business processes. BPM tools from vendors such as Global 360 and FileNet (acquired by IBM last year), for example, focus on the composition of business processes that revolve around the exchange of documents rather than transactions. Others, such as Ultimus, deliver BPM tools that can be used to model and implement business processes that depend heavily on human interaction, such as claims processing. Considering the diversity of BPM tools, many best-of-breed vendors argue, manufacturers would do well to consider taking a toolkit approach, licensing more than one tool and then selecting the one best suited to a given job. “NetWeaver is good at supporting processes within SAP applications, while WebSphere is good for legacy-based environments,” says Wolfram Jost, an executive board member at IDS Scheer, a maker of business process modeling tools. “Another tool might be better at human-to- SHOPPER’S GUIDE: COMPARING BPM OPTIONS Here is a rundown of what the major vendors are offering in BPM. Capability Business Modeling BEA Systems IBM WebSphere Business Modeler Oracle Business Process Analyst Suite (OEM from IDS Scheer) BPA Suite SAP Partnership with IDS Scheer; also developing own tool IDS Scheer ARIS, Enterprise Portal Guided Procedures IDS Scheer ARIS Tibco webMethods BPM for Business Analysts AquaLogic BPM Suite WebSphere Business Modeler Business Studio BPM Simulation AquaLogic BPM Suite WebSphere Business Modeler WebSphere Integration Developer WebSphere Integration Developer BPA Suite Business Studio BPM for Developers AquaLogic BPM Suite BPEL Process Manager Business Rules NetWeaver PI Process Modeler Business Studio; future integration with Yasu technology KPIs through BI content Business Studio BPM Rules Engine AquaLogic BPM Suite Business Studio, iProcess Decisions (OEM from Corticon) Business Events BPM (OEM from Fair Isaac) BPM Business Activity Monitoring Source: AMR 2007 AquaLogic BPM Suite WebSphere Business Modeler Business Activity Monitoring 33 January 2008
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